Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Understand the concept and dimensions of sustainability
  • Understand sustainability in
    • raw material procurement
    • production processes
    • products and recycling
  • Understand what are environmental management systems

Credits: 5

Schedule: 02.11.2021 - 15.12.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Olli Dahl, Anna-Elina Vilén, Jenny Thors

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • The concept and dimensions of sustainability
      • Environmental, economic, social and cultural issues
      • How to measure sustainability?
      • Global and regional examples
      • Political perspectives
    • Sustainability in Raw Material Sourcing (including Forest Certifications)
      • Forest as an ecological resource (broad perspective) - Finland versus global
      • Carbon balances and forest biodiversity
      • Sustainable forest management and use
        • Open felling vs. continuous cultivation
      • Logistics - wood from forest to mills
      • Secondary raw materials (demolition waste, impregnated products, waste paper and paper, etc.)
    • Sustainability in production processes
      • Manufacture of chemical and mechanical pulps
      • Paper and board manufacturing
      • Mechanical forest industry
      • Issues in production processes
        • Internal functions and cycles
        • External functions
          • Waste water and its treatment
          • Flue gases and other gaseous components and their treatment
          • Solid by-product streams and waste management
      • Safety, health and safety management
    • Sustainability of the products
      • Product design
        • Characteristics of the products (biodegradability, safety, non-toxicity)
      • Reuse of products
      • Recycling of products and recycling of substances and materials derived from products
      • Life cycle thinking and LCA calculation
        • ISO 14.000 based standards and their review
    • Environmental management systems
      • Management
      • Standards and EMAS
      • Implementing environmental policy in the organization
      • The principle of continuous improvement
      • Quality systems
      • Stakeholders

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • lessons (10 - 15 x 2h), discourse
    • LCA exercise and reporting
    • examination/s
    • guest speakers specially on corporate social responsibility and reporting, permitting, environmental impacts and environmental strategy

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • Lectures 20 30 h, lecture preparation,
    • Independent study and exam preparation 60 h,
    • LCA exercise 10 - 20 h,
    • Report/presentation, 35 h
    • Total 135 (5 cr)

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    • Totally updated internet version of the book: Papermaking Science and Technology Vol 19 Environmental Management and Control, FAPET, Helsinki 2008 (will be published year 2020)
    • Other materials to be announced at start of course.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

    17 Partnerships for the Goals

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Period:

    (2020, 2021) - No teaching

    2021-2022 Autumn II

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=CHEM-E1220

    Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi.

    Only for Biomass Refining and Fibre and Polymer engineering students or students with same knowledge or background (will be evaluated indivitually)